💬 Chatbots have a “yes boss” problem

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Greetings! Your latest quick tech update is here:

☀️ On this day: On October 27, 1994, the first-ever internet banner ad went live. It was sold by HotWired, the online version of Wired magazine, to AT&T. The black rectangular ad featured the simple phrase:

“Have you ever clicked your mouse right here? You will.”

Clicking it led users to a virtual tour of some of the world’s most renowned art museums. This moment marked the birth of online advertising, paving the way for the digital marketing industry that would soon dominate the web.

What’s happening:

• 💬 Chatbots have a “yes boss” problem

• 🚀 One in five OpenAI staff now ex-Meta

• ⚖️ Australia sues Microsoft over AI price hikes

• 🗺️ Apple Maps to show ads like Google Maps

• 💉 COVID mRNA vaccines show cancer-fighting power

• + 📊 Daily poll and results

• + 📈 Trending tools and resources

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Hand-picked news:

💬 Chatbots have a “yes boss” problem ↗️LINK

• What: A new Stanford study found that popular AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Llama often tell users what they want to hear. When people asked for advice, chatbots supported their actions about 50% more often than humans did—even if those actions were rude, dishonest, or harmful.

• Why: Researchers say this happens because chatbots are designed to be friendly and keep users engaged, so they end up being overly positive. This “social sycophancy” can make users feel more justified in bad behavior.

• Impact: People who get this kind of feedback are less likely to reflect or fix conflicts. Experts warn it could change how we see ourselves and interact with others, especially as more teens use AI for emotional support.

🚀 One in five OpenAI staff now ex-Meta ↗️LINK

• What: A new report says 600 of OpenAI’s 3,000 employees—about 20%—are former Meta staffers, including app chief Fidji Simo. There’s even a Slack channel for ex-Meta workers. Internal surveys reveal concern that OpenAI is becoming “too much like Meta,” and ex-CTO Mira Murati reportedly left over growth strategy clashes.

• Why: The company’s push for user expansion and new consumer features, like potential ad personalization using ChatGPT’s memory, reflects Meta-style growth tactics.

• Impact: OpenAI’s rapid scaling risks eroding its research-first culture as it balances innovation, monetization, and identity in the AI race.

⚖️ Australia sues Microsoft over AI price hikes ↗️LINK

• What: Australia’s competition watchdog (ACCC) is suing Microsoft for allegedly misleading 2.7 million customers into paying more for Microsoft 365 after bundling it with the AI tool Copilot. Prices jumped 45% for personal plans and 29% for family plans.

• Why: The ACCC claims Microsoft failed to clearly tell users that a cheaper “classic” plan without Copilot was still available—only revealing it during cancellation.

• Impact: Microsoft faces potential multimillion-dollar penalties and legal scrutiny that could shape how tech giants market AI-linked subscriptions worldwide.

🗺️ Apple Maps to show ads like Google Maps ↗️LINK

• What: A new Bloomberg report says Apple plans to bring ads to Apple Maps by 2026, letting restaurants and businesses pay for better visibility—similar to Google Maps or App Store search ads. AI will reportedly help make promoted results “relevant and useful.”

• Why: Apple wants to expand its ad business, but this move clashes with its reputation for privacy and a clean, ad-free user experience.

• Impact: Fans fear the change could clutter Apple Maps and undermine trust. Many say they may return to Google Maps if ads disrupt the app’s simplicity and transparency.

💉 COVID mRNA vaccines show cancer-fighting power ↗️LINK

• What: A Nature study found that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines may boost the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. Among 1,000 late-stage melanoma and lung cancer patients receiving immunotherapy, those vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna within 100 days were twice as likely to survive three years. Some hard-to-treat tumors saw nearly fivefold gains.

• Why: Researchers discovered mRNA acts as an immune “alarm,” helping the body overcome tumors’ defense mechanisms.

• Impact: The finding suggests pandemic-era mRNA vaccines could inspire powerful new cancer treatments.

🧠 Keep your mind sharp with these newsletters!

Want to stay on top of the latest trends and discover new resources? Here are a few of my favorite newsletters that I think you'll find valuable.

• The AI Pulse - AI solutions you can use to work smarter and achieve results. Join & get 200+ AI-powered tools!

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• MGMT Playbook – Practical management insights delivered to your inbox every Wednesday, authored by Dave Kline.

• Dumbify – Your weekly guide to unconventional thinking, unique insights, and ridiculous ideas that show how 'dumb' thinking can lead to better solutions.

• Identity Jedi Newsletter - This is your space for actionable insights, bold ideas, and a little snark to keep things interesting.

Today’s Poll:

Vote and find out about the result tomorrow.

Yesterday’s Poll Result:

Do you feel safe knowing AI cameras are watching public spaces?

• A) Yes – They help prevent crime - 24%

• B) No – It feels invasive and risky - 76% 🏆

Reader’s opinions:

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